LANSING – Michigan will ultimately receive $18 billion in federal funding through the latest COVID-19 relief plan and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is taking a different approach on how to spend it.

Rather than creating a supplemental spending plan and tossing it to the Legislature to act, Monday she announced her general priorities and is looking to “negotiate and find common ground” on a “transformation, once-in-a-generational opportunity.”

“It’s about equity. It’s about recovery. It’s about transformational change and sustainability,” the governor said.

“At the first supplemental, perhaps we can talk about child care. I know that’s something that employers and families alike are really struggling with. It’s a generational investment and it’s something that really could make Michigan more competitive.”

Overall, state government is expected to receive $5.7 billion in additional federal funding, $4.4 billion to local governments and $3.9 billion for K-12 schools.

This story was provided by the Small Business Association of Michigan